New Parkinson's prevalence data reveals critical gaps in diagnosis

The study, co-authored by Professor Donald Grosset, Consultant Neurologist at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow, and Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, reveals that while 166,000 people in the UK currently have a Parkinson's diagnosis, an estimated 21,000 more are living with the condition undiagnosed and unsupported. Over 18 million GP records were examined, alongside hospital attendance records and Office of National Statistics (ONS) data to reach these figures.

This robust exploration into Parkinson's prevalence highlights a concerning 26% drop in diagnosis rates between 2019 and 2021, which have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Other key findings include variations in nations, regions, ethnicity, and a changing picture of life expectancy after diagnosis.

Professor Richard Walker, Joint Clinical Director of our Clinical Leadership Team, said:  

"This is a robust and fascinating study based on a large proportion of the UK population which gives us an up to date idea of the prevalence of Parkinson’s in the UK. The drop in diagnoses since the Covid pandemic is worrying, as it is likely explained by decreased access to diagnostic services in the NHS and we know there are regional variations with particular problems in areas like Northern Ireland."

Professor Camille Carroll, Joint Clinical Director of our Clinical Leadership Team, said: 

"This important study provides a unique insight into the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonian disorders across the UK, showing changes across two decades. Our ability to diagnose other parkinsonian disorders appears to be improving, which hopefully is resulting in people with these disorders receiving the most appropriate care more quickly. 

“Like all well-conducted studies, this study raises more questions than it answers; addressing these questions to better understand Parkinson’s and what might underlie some of the study findings will be important next steps."

Read the main Parkinson's UK news story here.

To aid you in your exploration and interpretation of the study and its findings, we've created a resource page. This summarises the main study findings, has details of webinars you can book onto, and provides signposting links which you can share with your patients who may have questions or concerns about the study. 

Visit our prevalence data resource page.